Special Teams the key in U-18's victory

The Fighting Saints couldn’t stay out of the box and the Team USA U-18’s used four power play goals and a shorthanded goal to skate past Dubuque 7-4 on Saturday night. The Fighting Saints closed the deficit to one goal multiple times, but the U-18’s pulled away early in the third period. The U-18’s received goals from seven different players.

-The U-18’s tallied 14 goals in two games this weekend and they continued their torrid stretch in the USHL. They now have 41 goals in seven USHL games, an average of just under six goals a game. The tallies on Saturday night showed why the team is so dangerous, as they came from seven different skaters.

-Dubuque played a much better game tonight then they did on Friday. The Fighting Saints were dynamic through all three zones and looked crisp with their outlet passes. The four tallies were all created by smooth skating as they hung with the break neck pace of the U-18 squad.

-Willie Knierim remained hot at home. He grabbed two goals on the game and upped his total to 11 points in six home games. Knierim’s two tallies put him in a tie for second with Ty Jackson.

-Ty Jackson also scored, snapping a six game point drought. Jackson and Riese Gaber tallied and the line, who has struggled recently, is starting to be rewarded for their efforts. All three tallied a point in the game as Dylan Jackson grabbed an assist as well.

-Aaron Randazzo had the tough task of facing off against the best offense in the league, but he looked sharp. The majority of the goals scored were on the power play and Randazzo had his hands full with that unit. The netminder made 26 saves and the seven goals scored were not indicative of the actual performance.

-Dubuque took a whopping seven penalties tonight and the Fighting Saints could not stop the U-18’s on the power play. Team USA was operating at 20.3% on the man-advantage coming in to the game and that total increased as they peppered Dubuque with shots a man up.

-Dubuque went 0-3 on the power play as that unit continued to struggle. However, the Fighting Saints generated a good amount of chances and simply couldn’t find the back of the net.

-The Fighting Saints have a short layoff before they are back on the ice at Mystique Community Ice Center. The next action for Dubuque is on Wednesday against the Madison Capitols. Madison has struggled out of the gate, but still boasts one of the best defenses in the league.